One of my best friends from high school, Lea, hit me up, saying she was going to be in Austin, Texas—just 90 minutes away from Katy, where we were living at the time. I was excited to see her, it had been four years since we last met. But then the logisitics of it all, made me want to cancel. Driving on the road alone, to an unknown area for some reason overwhelmed me. That combined with the kids, my business, and life in general, I almost canceled.

Separation anxiety is real, as I struggle with leaving my kids. Even though they were going to be perfectly fine with their dad, the mom guilt was taking its toll. But deep down, I knew I needed this trip.

So, I went. And thank God I did.

I remember driving into Austin singing every Beyoncé and Mariah Carey song. With each mile northwest, I slowly started to feel like myself again. I was Jordyn—the girl who laughs until her sides hurt, who loves life, who knows that life isn’t happening to me, it’s happening for me.

Walking down the street, getting ready to meet Lea, I felt like I was back in college. Cue the music: JT coming, JT coming… It might sound vain, but it was the first time in forever that I felt seen again independently—like, people noticed me, not the busy entrepreneur and mom with a kid on each hip.

It was a reminder that there’s still so much more to me than just the roles I play in other people’s lives.

Leah and I? We picked up right where we left off. 

We danced, dirty whined, we laughed, we made stupid Snapchat videos, and we just lived (click here for video highlights of our weekend in Austin.) 

And here’s the kicker—I realized my kids would be okay without me for a day or two. Not only that, but it was probably good for them and their dad. It was the break I didn’t even know I was desperate for.

Since then, I’ve made it a point to get away—for me. At least once every couple of months, I carve out time that’s not about work, not about mommy playdates, but just about Jordyn. 

And let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.

For me, my morning workouts are non-negotiable. Without them, I start slipping into depressive symptoms.

Even on the days when I’m exhausted from being up half the night, I know I’ll be a more patient mom, partner, businesswoman, and overall human if I get moving.

Whether it’s a full workout or just hitting 10,000 steps while on a Zoom call, staying active keeps me balanced—it’s essential for my mental health.

I also make it a priority to connect with my husband. We have at least one date night a month, no matter what, because it reminds us why we fell in love in the first place.

I’m intentional about staying active and playing with my kids, too. We dance, make up freestyle raps, rollerblade, and bike ride together. We do flips, role play, and just get goofy. I know balancing it all—homework, household chores, cooking, planning—can be overwhelming, and honestly, I can be a bit OCD about keeping the house clean. But every day, I remind myself to let go of the mess and just play with my babies.

I’ll never forget the day I got on my son’s electric scooter and hoverboard for the first time. It was so exhilarating. It might sound silly, but it reminded me that life doesn’t always have to be so serious.

Let yourself have fun. Do something spontaneous. Play with your kids. Role play.  I promise it’ll recharge you in ways you didn’t even know you needed.

Here’s what I’ve come to understand: The chaos will never stop. 

There will always be responsibilities and people depending on me. But the key isn’t wishing for calm, it’s learning how to handle the chaos.

We are not defined by the craziness around us— we must trust that we are becoming the people we are meant to be, one step at a time.

At the end of the day, I’ve learned that taking care of myself is the foundation for everything else. And I don’t have to do it alone. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). I lean on that joy because it’s my source of strength. When you are feeling overwhelmed, I stop and pray, let God carry the burdens we were never meant to bear on our own.

I declare peace, strength, joy, and abundance in every step of this journey—for you and for me.

I know firsthand how hard it can be to balance it all, which is why we’ve created a free resource just for you:

The Joy Map—a simple guide to help you carve out time for yourself, reconnect with your passions, and start living with more intention and joy.

Download your copy of The Joy Map and take the first step toward reclaiming your joy today!

And if you want more tips, stories, and inspiration as you navigate this journey, purchase my book "Your Joy is Your Joy: A Real Guide to Living Fully & Authentically."  

Together, we’ll build a community of women reclaiming their lives, finding balance, and refusing to settle for anything less than joy. We’re in this together—now is the time to take back what’s yours.